To prepare for the show, West Hall was nicely decorated with balloons and strings. Admission to the show required a ticket ($5 for an RPI student), with money going to Project Hope and the Damien Center of Troy, an HIV shelter. After entering the auditorium, I could feel the climbing anticipation of what was to come.

Some of my friends raised their eyebrows at me when I told them the day after that I had gone to a drag show. Frankly, I thought it was quite amusing to watch, and from what the performers sang and danced to, they certainly deserve credit for their musical tastes.

The show itself started off with a lone man—or woman—in a sequined black dress and startlingly curly brown hair. She called herself Miss Carmie Hope (a name she devised after much consideration), and she proceeded to lighten the mood by telling the audience a few jokes before fully starting the show. She then plunged onward by performing two songs, one from the Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles (“I Am What I Am”) and another from the great Cher (“Dark Lady”).

Storm, the next performer, danced her way into the audience, making sure to flirt with an unsuspecting guy at the front (boy, did that guy feel uncomfortable!). She definitely showed us just how boots “were made for walkin” by dancing to Jessica Simpson’s song.

In the third act, Miss Penny Larseny entertained us by dancing to Blondie’s “Call Me,” only to keep the audience on its feet when she acted out a small skit from the movie Scream. Afterward, she was followed by “Miss Gay Albany,” or Patty Lee, lip synching to “Burn Baby Burn.”

More acts followed, including a flashy performance by Tsunami that stunned the crowd with her rendition of Celine Dion’s “River Deep, Mountain High,” with the help of UPAC Lights. Tsunami even threw her wig off, to the delight of the audience, but she did ask for it back afterward.

Another performer was Tiffany Gene, who, in a drunken stupor, performed her song of “White Rabbit,” originally by Jefferson Airplane. She then collapsed onto the stage, to be dragged by Mike Lit, the show’s only Drag King (don’t worry, it was all for show).

Following Tiffany Gene was “Miss Tulips,” or Lily Savage, performing a mix of country music and Queen. The first half of the show was ended by “Miss Club Phoenix,” or Loretta, with a dance number; though at first her songs could not be found (they had replaced her CD with Patty Lee’s). After a small break—where Carmie Hope, et al, threw beads at the audience—Loretta was able to perform. She entertained us with her version of Madonna, and her clothes—again, due to UPAC Lights—kept changing colors, darnit!

The second half was filled with more interesting acts, starting with Carmie Hope singing, followed by Storm wearing a tiara and dressed in black. This time, instead of flirting with another unsuspecting guy from the audience, Storm did backflips on the stage and gave a new meaning to Kelly Clarkson’s “Behind These Hazel Eyes.”

Storm’s second act wasn’t the only thing that could have been remembered, however. Penny Larseny gave another go at the stage and danced to a remix of Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” Madonna’s “Vogue,” Britney Spears’ “Do Somethin’,” and the Weather Girls’ “It’s Raining Men.”

Patty Lee then performed a solo, and the final act that night was an encore of all the performers collaborating together to sing “Imagine” from the Beatles.

Overall, the night let many get in touch with their feminine side. Or, for those who already were in touch with their feminine side, it certainly gave them a chance to drag others into the whole gender confusion of it all.